CHD Awareness Week

Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week is held each year from Feb. 7-14 to recognize children and adults living with congenital heart disease, celebrate their journey and increase public awareness of these heart conditions. During this week, the Children’s Heart Center holds events for patients, families and the community to:

• Provide hope for families of CHD survivors and comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
• Inform the general public about the symptoms of CHDs to help save lives.
• Affirm the need for increased funding to researchers and medical professionals so they can improve the outlook for CHD patients.

The Heart Center and Kids at Heart Program at Children’s encourage you to participate in our virtual and in-person events to help raise awareness about CHDs within our communities, as well as meet and connect with others on a similar journey. Browse our resources and events below, and join us in celebrating our CHD warriors.

What is congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart diseases, also known as congenital heart defects or CHDs, are birth defects that affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. It is the most common birth defect, with approximately 1% of newborns born with a CHD each year. Of those born with a CHD, 1 in 4 infants typically need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. CHD treatment helps kids live into adulthood, and today, there are more than 2.4 million heart warriors, or children and adults living with CHDs, in the U.S.

*For sharing on social media, please tag @kidsatheartchoa on Facebook and #CHDChildrensATL.

• Throughout the week: Share your warrior’s story using this letter.
• Feb. 7: Share the Children’s CHD Awareness Graphic on social media or send emails to family and friends to kick off CHD Awareness week. Update your social media profiles using a CHD Awareness 2025 Graphic.
• Feb. 8: Heart Swap—Display or purchase a heart yard sign to support the Heart Center and our heart warrior community.
• Feb. 9: Share photos of your heart warrior and family with CHD Awareness signs and/or wearing your favorite CHD Awareness shirts.
• Feb. 10: Arthur M. Blank Heart Center Spirit Cart will round the Cardiac Inpatient Units to offer treats, swag and celebrate with heart families.
• Feb. 11: Always in our Hearts—Today we remember the heart warriors who left us too soon. Post a photo and a memory of a warrior you want to honor with our community.
• Feb. 12: CHD Awareness at the Georgia State Capitol—Share the proclamation that states “February 7-14 is CHD Awareness Week in the State of Georgia.” Reach out to your local legislators to make sure they know they have a heart warrior living in their district.
• Feb. 13: CHD Awareness Family Support Dinner and Carnival—Enjoy face painting, games, crafts and fun with other heart families at Arthur M. Blank Hospital from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This event is open to both inpatient and outpatient Kids at Heart families. Please email kidsatheart@choa.org to RSVP or learn more.
  
  
• Feb. 14: Share CHD Awareness valentines. Print your own or share a digital version. We also encourage all to participate in Lights of Love event at Arthur M. Blank, Scottish Rite or Hughes Spalding hospitals.

Join us for our 2025 CHD Awareness/Heart Month Celebration

When: Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 3:30 to 6:30pm
Where: Zoo Atlanta

Email kidsatheart@choa.org for more information.

There are many ways you can help us provide a better future for our heart patients. Whether fundraising on your own, donating directly or participating in events that benefit the Children’s Heart Center, you can play a valuable role in increasing awareness and support.

• Add a CHD Awareness 2025 Graphic to your social media profile.
• Donate to support the Heart Center and CHD Awareness.
• Purchase a CHD Awareness shirt.

Read Heart Warrior Stories

You can read patient stories on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology blog.

Join our Support Group

Are you the parent or guardian of a child treated who has been treated for a CHD? Enroll in our support group and join our private Facebook group to connect with other families.

• Support Group
• Facebook group (you must request access first)

Learn about CHD’s

As the largest pediatric heart program in the Southeast, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center provides comprehensive diagnosis, treatment and management of CHDs in children every day. Browse our website if you would like to learn more about the different types of CHDs and how they are treated, or to learn more about the Children’s Heart Center.